By: PWHL Toronto Media
April 22, 2024
If you ask opponents who they would not like to be going up against in a corner, Jocelyne Larocque and Alexa Vasko are sure to be mentioned! Larocque, from Ste. Anne, MB, attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, she was a member of two NCAA championship teams, and, after graduating, played in the WWHL, CWHL and PWHPA. The defender has two Olympic gold medals and eleven World Championship appearances where she has amassed four gold, six silver and one bronze.
Forward Alexa Vasko, from St. Catharines, ON, attended Mercyhurst University after coming up through the Stoney Creek Sabres organization. In 2017, she was on the team that won the silver medal at the U18 World Championship. She played one season in the PWHPA before being drafted by PWHL Toronto.
The fierce competitors bring so much to PWHL Toronto – let’s get to know more about them!
What three words to describe your playing style?
Larocque: Competitive, determined and dependable.
Vasko: Physical, gritty and fast.
Have you ever tried shooting with your opposite hand? How did it go?
Larocque: At times. We’ve done opposite hand scrimmage and I’m by far the worst player on the ice!
Vasko: Yes, I have. I played field hockey in high school where you can only shoot right (I normally shoot left), so shooting right on the ice wasn’t too bad.
What is your favourite movie and why do you like it so much?
Larocque: ‘Remember the Titans’ – it’s a great sport movie and showcases important issues.
Vasko: My two favourite movies would have to be ‘Bridesmaids’ and ‘The Greatest Showman’. Two very different genres, but ‘Bridesmaids’ is just so funny, and I love the music in ‘The Greatest Showman’.
Who was your favourite coach growing up?
Larocque: My coach for the Calgary Oval Xtreme that I had for three years prior to college, Tomas Pacina. I learned so much about the game from him, his hockey IQ was outstanding. He’d stay on the ice with me after practices and watch game tape with me whenever I wanted. He was so dedicated and cared about his athletes.
Vasko: My favourite coach growing up was Dave Keracher. He coached me when I played Atom BB for the St. Catharines Chaos – and we won our first ever provincials. He was a great coach because even at a young age, he instilled a sense of trust in me as a hockey player and helped me grow my game. He was also very funny and made coming to the rink the best part of my day.
What did you study in university/college? Why did you pick that subject?
Larocque: Accounting. I’ve always been good with numbers, so I figured it was a good match. I learned after college that just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should do that as a career. You need to love what you do.
Vasko: I studied Sports Medicine with a concentration in Exercise Science and Psychology, as well as Athletic Management in my fifth year. I chose those subjects because I’ve always been passionate about these topics and I’m able to apply what I learned in the classroom to real life scenarios in my career, such as in the gym or on the ice.
